Disclaimer: none of this is mine, except the parts that are, mostly not though.
A/N: A guest asked about Harry changing his name to Ree. To clarify: he didn't. He still thinks of himself as Harry and answers to that name. Ree is the alias he was given for their various visits into public and one of many nicknames Prince has for Harry. (It's a thing he has.) Sometimes the other boys use it but mostly I've been sticking to Harry. Or at least trying to do so. Sorry for the confusion.
Chapter 17 Bonding
Harry read over the thick tome carefully. He knew it was a big decision. Prince told him over and over that it wasn't the kind of thing to take lightly. Harry understood that, he really did but it seemed too dangerous to leave to chance. There were all sorts of laws to prevent a forced anchor bonding and to protect empaths, but laws had never been something that applied to him. People seemed to pick and choose when they were enforced. The laws of the Dursley household could be bent and twisted at the Dursley's pleasure; usually to get Harry into more trouble. Rules at Hogwarts were punished to the extreme when broken, except when they were rewarded. Even the Ministry could pick and choose whether an offense should be waved away or tried before a full council. He had no doubt Prince would do everything in his power to keep Harry safe, but even that might not be enough to stop the ministry or Dumbledore, not to mention Voldemort. He heaved a tired sigh tracing the page with a finger.
"What's up Harry?" Dudley flopped gracelessly on the couch next to him.
"Nothing." He answered automatically. Dudley shot him a look and Harry blushed. "Just trying to make a decision. It's kinda important."
"You want to talk it out? Sometimes that helps."
"Uh… well it's about you-know-what, I don't think that's such a great idea."
"I can listen. I'm not going to judge you. I've told you, your magic" he ignored the small cringe "is not something that I will hate you for. Not anymore."
"You don't have to-"
"Listen to me. If you don't want to talk to me, you don't have to. I just want you to know that you can talk to me. Even about magic if that's what you want."
Harry looked up at his cousin and nodded. Then he explained. He told his cousin about being an empath and how rare that was. He explained that his lack of a bonded anchor left him open to certain attacks. He went over his worries that someone –the ministry, Dumbledore, Voldemort – would try to force him to bond either with the best of intentions or with some kind of agenda. Harry listed the reasons he didn't think he would be left to make his own choice. He continued to explain how Prince offered to be there for him even if they didn't bond now, but how he was worried they might hurt him somehow. He explained how as soon as he went back to the wizarding world they would be looking at him under a microscope.
"It's just a lot of pressure. I think this is the right choice, and it's what I want, but how do I drag Prince into the mess that is my life?"
"Then say fuck it and don't go back at all." Dudley spoke up for the first time.
"What?"
"Look I'm not saying it's the best idea or the perfect solution but it is an option. We could just keep hiding, you and me. We just don't go back to school in September. You've seen the news, they've been looking for us and we haven't been found yet. We can keep hiding for as long as it takes for you to be sure."
"But- we agreed- you can't just skip school like that."
"Yes; yes I can." Dudley sounded solemn. "You have been through so much you need to think about yourself on this one. Your decision should be about what will make you happy for the rest of your life, not just how you will survive secondary school. If you are just worried these people will force or trap you then don't go where they can. If you stay hidden they can't force you to do anything. Maybe you decide six months from now this is what you want maybe you decide three years from now that you want to let one of your school friends in. Either way your choice, the time the place the person, it is too important to pick because you need to it should be about want to."
Harry was overwhelmed. Dudley was pouring off sincerity with no reservations and what he was saying- he couldn't possibly mean to imply that he would hide here for another three years if that's what I want…
"Dudley... That sounds great, but you can't want to live like that."
"Of course not," Dudley answered honestly "but I will. Your decision should be about you. You listed all the reasons other people would interfere or disapprove or cause backlash or would take your choices from you. I want you to think about just you for a minute. What ways would you be affected if you did this? What good things, and what bad things? If you do it will it make you happy? If you don't will it make you unhappy?"
"That's – I don't even know where to start." Harry looked over at his cousin feeling frantic.
"Maybe make a list for each. One if you say yes one if you say no and write the pros and cons."
Harry started to nod. "Really I'm not saying yes or no, I'm asking him."
"You know what I mean." Dudley quirked a smile and Harry sighed.
"I thought talking it out would make things clearer."
"Well it cleared up a lot of things for me!" he teased lightly.
Harry reached for the spiral notebook on the table and began making his lists. Dudley pat him on the knee and settled on the couch opening his magazine.
XXXxxx
Harry shuffled awkwardly in the open doorway not sure whether to walk in or knock.
"Wizardling, enter." Prince waved him forwards.
"I want to bond with you." Harry blurted. "The anchor bond."
"We talked about this" he began with a worried frown.
"I know, but what's going to change in two weeks? I thought about it and this is what I want." Harry tried to sound assured.
"There's no point in rushing-"
"I'm not rushing. I thought about this. I talked to Dudley and I made lists" he waved the fist full of papers he'd brought to help this argument. "I want this. I want you to be my anchor. I trust you, and you help me. You- you do things for me, nice things. And you check to make sure I'm safe and that I've eaten properly and that I am getting enough sleep. You help me figure out the names for these feelings and get me books and things so I understand my rights. When you're close I feel safe and calm and everything the books say an anchor should feel like. I and I know you won't take advantage of me."
Prince stared at his wizardling. It wasn't that he thought another two weeks would make a difference, but he didn't want Harry feeling pressured into a decision.
"You do want me, right?" the question was soft and lacking all the determination of the previous points.
"Of course." He reassured the younger boy. "I would never have suggested it as an option if I hadn't carefully considered the commitment."
"Okay then. I considered it too."
"So you have." He gave a small nod. He stood gracefully stalking around the desk to stand in front of Harry. "When?"
"I-" Harry seemed startled by the sudden acceptance. "Soon. Tomorrow or the next day maybe, but I don't want to put it off much longer than that."
"Tomorrow then. I will set up something for Benny to do, but we do need a witness. You have talked this over with your cousin?"
"I told him about the bonding but we didn't discuss the specifics of the ceremony. I guess we, I, need to do that."
"We can explain after Benny is out. It is not a complicated ceremony." He brushed fingers through the calico hair. Harry leaned into the touch and smiled brightly.
"Tomorrow then."
XXXxxx
It was easy enough to get Benny J out of the flat. A simple reminder that it wasn't his face on the news, a credit card under his alias, and he was willing to make a "supply run".
"Remember be back by two thirty. If I have to come looking for you I will assume the worst and you do not want to see what happens then." Prince added a bit of dramatic flair. He'd learned that Benny J responded best to action movie clichés.
"Yes sir." Benny saluted and exited quickly.
The ceremony was simple and most of the supplies were found in the flat. They covered the coffee table in a simple white table cloth and filled a mixing bowl with cold water, setting it in the center. Four small candles were arranged at the cardinal points around the bowl. The final piece of the ceremony, a thin platinum chain, Prince bought several weeks back when the possibility was considered. Technically it could have been string or twine or ribbon so long as it could be knotted properly but he was a Malfoy at heart, and he didn't think Harry deserved less than the best.
"You're okay with this Dudley?" Harry asked again.
"Of course. It'll be cool. Besides, if what you've explained it true this will help keep you safe, I definitely want to be a part of that."
"Let's begin then."
Dudley knelt at the table with Harry on his right. Prince knelt on the opposite side of the table facing them.
"Briar Malfoy, known as Prince, known as Blackhawk, known as Shadow," Dudley read from his script "you have come to me today offering your services as permanent anchor for Harry James Potter, my kin and unbounded empath."
"I have."
"Then light the pillars to and let your intentions be as pure as the light." Dudley made a face at the words but watched carefully.
Prince summoned his magic and leaned forwards blowing on the North candle, a flame lighting with the wandless magic. He then lifted the candle and used it to light the East candle, returning it to its place before using the East to light South then South to West passing the flame along. When the last candle was back in place he rested his hands on the table, palms up, on either side of the bowl.
"Harry Potter, kin of my blood, you have come to this place to name your chosen anchor, binding them to you for life."
"I have."
"Then declare your intentions."
"As is my right as an empath, I ask today for Briar Malfoy to bond with me as my Anchor. I ask this free of mind and spirit, if you would stand at my side as my shield, anchoring me to mine own self, grounding me when I am unable and protecting my mind and spirit for as long as we both live?"
"I would."
The candle flames rose a bit higher.
"Asked and accepted and approved by kin." Dudley responded with the last of his lines.
Harry reached out gently clasping Prince's forearms on top of the table and bringing his arms down so that Prince could clasp his in return without lifting from the table top.
"Witnessed then in the eyes of kin and with the approval of Magic, I would bond as Anchor to you. I promise on my magic and on my life to stand at your side, to be your shield and anchor, to ground and protect you to the best of my abilities for as long as we both live."
"Witnessed in the eyes of kin and with the approval of magic I offer my trust and faith in your promise."
Silently Dudley reached out and wound the chain around their left forearms lifting them slightly. The chain wrapped four times before Dudley tied it off in a big knot.
Harry met Prince's eyes over the table and together they spoke the final words. "So mote it be."
The water spun, lifting itself and sending a tendril over the lip of the bowl. It traveled in a square over the four candles and then dropped to the binding chain. A bright flash of light and the water vanished.
"That was- intense." Prince spoke first.
"Wow" Dudley agreed.
"Look." Harry reached his right hand over to touch the platinum armband. The chain had transformed into a small band as thick as his pinky snugly fitting against his arm. A small stone, like blue sea glass dangled freely under a small image of a dream catcher. It was imprinted so small Harry could barely make it out.
"Spirit stone. It is generally only worn by empaths. It can't be found in nature, it's a gift from another realm. I wanted to find you a piece but it is so incredibly rare. I didn't expect-" Prince trailed off touching the blue stone carefully.
"What does your band look like?" Harry changed the topic blushing under the attention.
Prince reluctantly broke their grip and lifted his own arm. The platinum band was thicker, thumb width, and displayed the same dream catcher emblem but without the stone dangle. It also contained a pair of runes that Harry recognized from his book.
"What's that?" Dudley asked pointing.
"They represent a Bonded Anchor. It basically is telling anyone who can read it that he's bonded to me; that's my symbol I guess." Harry ran a finger over the markings feeling a tingle of magic.
"That was really awesome! Is all magic like that?"
"That was a ritual. They are very rare actually. Most magic involves one or two words and a wand movement."
"It was really cool. A bit weird though. Is it supposed to be so much like a wedding?" Dudley wrinkled his nose.
"Dudley!" Harry flushed pink and Prince laughed.
"It's not so different. Both are life bonds, but while marriage implies a sexual and romantic aspect, this is purely about protecting your cousin's physical, mental and spiritual well being. You'll also notice that I did most of the promising. Weddings are usually a balanced exchange, this ceremony puts a large portion of the responsibility on me. That's why the bond is so well respected."
Dudley looked thoughtful his eyes scanning his script again. Harry settled and felt for the bond. Instantly it was there. Unlike before when he'd been loosely bonded now it was like a beacon. He found it instantly and was filled with warmth and tenderness. Surprised and awed he let himself feel it. He could tell instantly what was his own emotions separate from Prince's emotions and could feel a protective barrier like a shield around them both.
For the first time ever it was like the world was shut out. He couldn't even feel Dudley. Harry didn't realize he was filtering out the excitement from his cousin until it was completely gone. The low buzzing he constantly felt against his mind was gone. It was like hearing silence for the first time. It was disconcerting and amazing. A tingle of curiosity and Harry knew Prince was aware of his connection too.
"That's-" Harry pulled back mentally so that he reconnected with the world.
"Yes, it is." Prince smiled.
Dudley looked back and forth between the two. He shrugged and gestured to the table.
"Is there a proper way to clean this up or can I just" he made a vague gesture.
"I'll take care of it." Prince stood and stretched. "Why don't the two of you decide what you want to do for the rest of the afternoon?"
.
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.
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Timeline for those lost…
Mid July school ends, Harry is back at the Dursleys. Locked out the first night in the rain, he gets a cold.
Week 1: Harry is bullied by Aunt and Uncle culminating in Uncle trying to strangle him and locking him in the cupboard under the stairs. Dudley convinces him to run away. (Chap 1)
Harry meets Prince who was hired by Dudley's friend Benny J to help hide them. (Or rather by Benny's father to keep him out of trouble 'glorified babysitting'.) Harry realizes that Prince is a Malfoy, they come to an agreement where Prince takes an oath not to reveal Harry. (Ch 3)
Dumbledore and Ministry know about the disappearance almost immediately. They put out a notice through Muggle channels and both Aurors and the Order are actively searching for Harry even before 24 hours has passed. (Ch 4)
Week 2: Harry settles in with Dudley, Benny J, and Prince. They get haircuts etc.
Week 3. Very early in the week he goes out on the town for the first time. Gets a cat named Kiki. Later discovers Harry is an empath and gives him a Dream catcher. (5-8)
Dumbledore meets with the Order to check in on progress. Severus tells them that the Dark Lord is unable to make the mental connection with Harry and presumes him dead, but wants to be certain. (We know that this is because of the dream catcher.) This really worries everyone but Dumbledore reassures them Harry is still alive. (Ch 9)
Harry learns about being an empathy and a glimpse into Prince/Briar's history. End of the week (July 31) Harry has his birthday party. (Ch 10-13)
Week 4: It is now August and Harry has a panic attack. His cousin and Benny J get tattoos. Dudley and Harry get closer. Prince discovers wards around the flat. (Ch 14-16)
Dumbledore's sensor around the Dursley residence goes off indicating the ward has collapsed. He doesn't know it has shifted to the flat, just that it's gone from #4. (Ch 16)
Week 5: This chapter! We're into the second week of August so the "two weeks" they keep referring to is the time left before Hogwarts, they actually have about two and a half weeks left.